What Were They Thinking

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." -- Bill Clinton

In the mid 1990s my children were fascinated with a daily television program called Blue’s Clues. For those unfamiliar with the show, it features just two main characters. There was Blue, a cartoon animation of a blue colored dog, and then there was Steve, the “Human” host of the show. The show was about the adventures and misadventures of Blue. During the half-hour show Blue interacted in a variety of situations that provided learning opportunities for children. During each of the interactions Blue leaves “clues” in the form of paw prints on pieces of a puzzle. Throughout the show children are prompted to figure out the clue puzzles. At the end of the show the host, Steve collects all of the puzzles and puts them together and prompts the television audience to help him solve the puzzle. He does this while sitting in “The Thinking Chair.” This show was mind numbing for adults. The format of the show was very flat, dull, and deliberate. The show utilizes repetition and long pauses to the point where any adult would go screaming from the room, or at least find themselves screaming at Steve to “get on with it already!” But, the show worked for children. Observing any child under the age of five watching the show was amazing. The children interacted with the show and Steve in a way that was incredible. The show worked.

"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life," -- Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign.

Last year I read Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point.” There is a section of the book that brought back the whole memory of Blue’s Clues. Even though I painfully watched the show a number of times with my children, it was not until I read Gladwell’s book that I was struck by the way that Steve ended every show. I think that I was always just so happy to see it end that I missed it. The end of the show features the “Thinking Chair.”

The idea of having a thinking chair resonated with me because in my office I have a thinking chair. Not many people know that this is what I call it because I am frequently found sleeping in my thinking chair. I designated the chair my thinking chair because it is where I go when I want to just think. The chair is less than three feet away from my desk, but the fact that I go there to think helps me to change perspective.

It was James Allen a philosopher who wrote in “As a Man Thinketh” “Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.” This simple statement points out a simple truth which is that the quality of our thinking impacts the quality of the results that we achieve. This causes us to understand that we need to examine our thinking. We need to constantly ask ourselves “what are we thinking?”

"I was provided with additional input that was radically different from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version," -- Colonel Oliver North, from his Iran-Contra testimony.

There are so many different kinds of thought that we can engage in throughout our day. Many of these happen without your urging and often go on without you noticing. Just the process of beginning your day required a number of thoughts and decisions. Some of those were conscious, yet many were below your conscious level. Sometimes the unconscious decisions that you made in the morning are the ones that you question later in the day. Questions like “what in the world made me wear this today?” are common examples of this. For most of us our real thinking time is not actually thinking, but rather it is time spent worrying. While worrying does involve thinking, I want to just remind you that worrying is just based on fear. Fear is: False Expectations Appearing Real. All of us are fairly accomplished at the worrying form of thinking. I would like to suggest to you that there are a variety of other forms of thinking that you can engage in. Here are just a few examples: reflective thinking, creative thinking, strategic thinking, focused thinking, and possibility thinking. Or, you can do what Donald Trump says “You have to think anyway, so why not think big?

We need to broaden our thinking. Thinking big is a great place to start. I am reminded of the “Peanuts” cartoon strip created by Charles Schultz. In one particular cartoon, Charlie Brown is holding up his hands and telling Lucy, “These are hands which may someday accomplish great things. These are hands which may someday do marvelous works! They may build mighty bridges, or heal the sick, or hit home runs, or write soul-stirring novels! These are the hands which may someday change the course of destiny!” Lucy looks at Charlie Brown’s hands and simply says, “They’ve got jelly on them.”

We all have a Lucy in our lives that can bring us back down to earth. But even our Lucy’s are important because they can add to what I think of as your “Google Group.” This is a group of people that you must have if you want to elevate your thinking. You should appoint to this group people that help you think differently. In my own life I have identified several people that I know think a certain way. I know that when I need to think strategically, I call my friend Dan. When thinking reflectively, I call my Mom. Critical thinking falls to Suman. The list goes on and some of the names would probably prefer not to be “outed”. Each of these people in their unique way helps me think.

"The word “genius” isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein," -- Joe Theisman, former NFL quarterback & sports analyst.

Thinking requires the proper environment and for most of us the proper time of day. I do my best thinking before 9:00 in the morning. Perhaps you think best at a different time. But it is important to keep in mind what John Maxwell says “Ideas have a short shelf life. We must act on them before they expire.” There is a valuable tool that I use to assist my thinking. Actually, the tool is more of a capture device. This is a simple leather bound book that I carry with me everywhere I go. In this book I write every idea, thought, number, reminder, or list. Some of these things get transferred to my calendar or contact system later in the day, but the ever present book is there to capture every thought that runs through my head. This book is with me when I read, when I listen to someone speak, and even when watching television. Thoughts and ideas come from everywhere around you and you don’t want to miss a chance to catch one. One clear benefit to all of this thinking is that you begin to collect ideas. These will spur other ideas and ultimately great thoughts. But it all starts with practice. Make time to think. Practice thinking regularly. I schedule one hour each day that is devoted to thinking and sometimes I make it through without falling asleep. I can’t say that as of yet I have had a thought that will change the world, but I believe that I will not end up like the hapless examples I have included in this article that have demonstrated what happens to people that are not spending enough time thinking.

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been a real deep thinker and stuff” – Billy Ray Cyrus, country music singer.

I want to hear from you. What do you think about this idea? Note the addition of two comments sections below. The comments on the left are for longer comments. You can use the comments on the right to leave a shorter response.

I forgot that I wanted to give credit for some of the quotes to the folowing website :
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